Senator Bennet Pushes for Farm Bill Passage

Colorado legislators in Washington are pushing for Congress to pass the Farm Bill. Senators approved their version last week, and as KUNC’s Luke Runyon reports, now it’s the House’s turn.

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The Farm Bill is massive in scope. It directs spending on everything from food stamps to crop insurance to rural development. The Senate version makes modest cuts to spending, leaving many programs unscathed. In a recent floor speech, Colorado Democratic Senator Michael Bennet took partial credit for changes to how crop insurance is given out, by eliminating the so-called direct payment system.

“This bill prioritizes what is working for producers and it strengthens crop insurance as a result, which is what my farmers have said is the most important thing to them.”

The focus in the House has been on funding for food stamps, with cuts to spending going significantly deeper than the Senate version. The House could begin debating the Farm Bill as early as this week. President Obama has indicated he’ll veto the House’s proposal in its current form.

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